The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has responded to what it describes as misleading media coverage regarding the Alligator Alcatraz facility, a detention center for illegal immigrants in the Florida Everglades. DHS officials claim that reports have been filled with ‘lies’ and ‘baseless allegations’ about the conditions at the facility.

DHS Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin stated, ‘Nearly every single day, my office responds to media questions on FALSE allegations about Alligator Alcatraz.’ She emphasized the importance of correcting the record amid rising assaults against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and other DHS officials.

McLaughlin asserted that claims of inhumane conditions, including overflowing toilets and deaths of detainees, are untrue. ‘No feces are overflowing from toilets. Just like no one has died. These types of smears are directly contributing to our officers facing a 1000% increase in assaults against them,’ she said.

Misleading Reports

One example cited by DHS involved a report from The Latin Times that claimed a detainee, Luis Manuel Rivas Velásquez, had died due to negligence. DHS clarified that he had merely fainted and received medical attention. ‘Rivas Velásquez fainted and was taken to the hospital out of precaution,’ McLaughlin explained.

Another report from the Associated Press alleged that detainees were facing unsanitary conditions, including worm-infested food and flooding from non-flushing toilets. DHS countered these claims, stating that the facility meets federal detention standards and that the allegations are false.

NBC News also reported on a supposed hunger strike by detainees, which DHS denied, asserting that the individual involved was misidentified and that no hunger strike had occurred. ‘For the record: During hunger strikes, ICE continues to provide three meals a day,’ McLaughlin stated.

Concerns regarding access to legal representation were raised in a Forbes article, which quoted an attorney claiming difficulties in meeting clients. DHS responded that the facility has a designated space for attorney meetings and has established a process for attorneys to communicate with detainees.

DHS condemned the spread of misinformation, particularly claims regarding incinerators at the facility, which were compared to Nazi crematoriums by some social media users. ‘The vilification of ICE must stop,’ the agency stated, emphasizing that such comparisons are unfounded.

DHS aims to clarify these misconceptions to ensure public understanding of the facility’s operations and the treatment of detainees. McLaughlin reiterated, ‘Ensuring the safety, security, and well-being of individuals in our custody is a top priority at ICE.’

READ ICE Arrests Convicted Criminals in Nationwide Operation